Pam Webb

a writer's journey as a reader

Archive for the category “birds”

29 Jun 2026
8 Comments

The Backyard Bystander


With summer full on, now that the solstice has arrived, I’m spending more time in the backyard or I’m longing to head out there as I plunk away on my computer whilst gazing out my office window.

The backyard is a playground of activity as birds, beasties, and bugs take advantage of the season.

Not long ago (actually longer ago than I care to admit), the backyard served as a playground for our kids. Running, yelling, camping, goofing in the inflatable pool were all part of summer fun. I’m still finding airsoft pellets in the yard as I garden, leftovers from the skirmishes the kids had with friends.

These days the backyard is quieter and I am in the role of bystander instead of being a referee or activities coordinator. I’ve even stepped away from yard manager, having settled on the compromise of enjoying the cultivated wilderness of flowers cohabiting with the forest.

Being a backyard bystander has its advantages. For one, more wildlife appearances.

A bevy of birds, a rambling raccoon, a swish of squirrels, and possibly a bear visit are part of the scenery.

I’m especially enjoying the variety of birds. We have several feeders and I rigged up a giant pine cone that gets smeared with crunchy peanut butter.

I had no idea birds enjoyed pb so much. Juncos, chickadees, nuthatches, sparrows all clamor for a turn surfing on the cone.

Lately a newcomer arrived, and this visitor totally perplexed us as to its identity.

A quandary

It doesn’t have a particular markings nor is its shape helpful in identification. Mature? Juvenile?

We think it might be a fox sparrow. Any guesses would be appreciated.

Any other backyard bystanders out there?

Posted in Animals, birds, bloggers, Nature, reflections, Relaxation, summer and tagged , , , , ,
20 May 2026
6 Comments

From Dearth to Birth


As dedicated bird and squirrel (by default) fans we enjoy the variety of feathered (and furry) friends that visit our yard.

Juncos, chickadees, doves, nuthatches, sparrows, robins are stock characters while seasonal guest visitors such as warblers, flickers, jays, goldfinches, hummingbirds, grosbeaks, and siskins drop in, adding both drama and entertainment to the landscape.

Sometimes, right around the beginning of May our bird activity suddenly vanishes. So distressing! Well, we know why when suddenly we see moments like in this video:

Snack time!

The birds have been busy at home!

I’m amused how mom bird pulls away for a few seconds to get a couple of bites in before her “toddlers” cue for a handout. I noticed her fledglings are quite capable of feeding themselves but pester her anyway.

Reminds me of my long ago days of my own fledgling feeding times.

Any springtime feathery episodes to share?

Posted in Animals, birds, Family, humor, reflections, Seasons and tagged , , , ,
24 May 2025
7 Comments

Robin Recall


To prevent any misconceptions I will emphatically state that I do indeed like robins.

With that stated, I have say this: Robins have got to be one of the stupidest birds out there.

Why the vitriol?

Maybe I’m just fed up with this particular batch of red-breasted harbingers of spring.

I don’t mind how they try to nest in our patio rafters every year—at least not too much since when we do allow a nest it’s plenty entertaining watching them raise their noisy brood.

I’m irritated but understanding when they lob their droppings all over my outdoor furniture—when nature calls, and all that.

I must say I get tremendous enjoyment watching them splash around in the birdbath—they are exorbitant extroverts when it comes to bathing.

Getting ready to splash and dash

I do mind one distinct and inexcusable behavior: robin reflection bobbing. Or flap and slap. I’m sure there must be a scientific term for how robins (I have yet to see other birds do this behavior) go for their window reflection endlessly flapping up against it until I shoo them away.

This is is the first year in the thirty years at this address I’ve seen this behavior.

Right—I understand they think it’s another bird and are feeling territorial…

Yet this year they are taking on car windows, the neighbor’s shed window, the office window, the living room window. These aren’t isolated incidents but repeated violations no matter how many times they are chased away.

We even blocked a window so the reflection was covered and the robin still wanted to fight with the window.

I’m doing a call out here—has anyone else noticed their backyard robins being so crazily hostile this year?

My explanation is that this year’s robins are an off batch. They give meaning to the description of being bird-brained.

Maybe there should be a robin recall. Anyone know the number of the department of defective birds? Or did that one get shuttered as well?

Chillax, fella
Posted in birds, humor, Nature, reflections, Spring and tagged , ,
21 Mar 2025
5 Comments

Snow kidding–it’s spring, right?


“I told you we got here too early, but no–you said spring had arrived.”

Yup, after all that nice weather: the temps in the forties; the clear blue skies; the good riddance to that winter white stuff because it rained for three days; and the daffodils starting to poke up their little green noggins, we woke up to an inch of snow with more falling down on Saturday which eventually melted in time for the spring equinox.

So is it spring or should I be prepared for disappointment once again?

Well, it’s a good thing my holds arrived at the library and I still have cocoa mix…

Posted in birds, humor, Nature, reflections and tagged , , ,
10 Nov 2023
2 Comments

My Not So Big Year: Zamboni Weather


November weather is doing it’s usual thing of a stretch of rainy days followed by freezy nights and shivery days.

The birds and squirrels are coming in thick and fast stocking up before the snow flies. We keep the feeders going year round but having second thoughts about the birdbath. The birds appreciate the solar fountain, yet that was stored away due to lack of solar power. The best it could muster was an anemic dribble effect.

The birds still gather for a quick sip. No baths lately. One reason is because the water is freezing up. I have taken up the chore of pouring warm water in the birdbaths to loosen up the ice. The fun part is the monocle I pull out.

Backyard Science

I think of Woodstock running his Zamboni on his birdbath ice rink. And I did watch a starling skate around on the ice before I managed to do my defrosting chore. It was one puzzled bird.

credit: Pioneer Press
Posted in birds, fall, humor, Nature, reflections, Seasons and tagged , , ,
17 Jul 2023
2 Comments

My Not So Big Year: Junco Journal


Junco Journal

The junco is a common bird, true; however, it has plenty of personality. We learned about juncos this winter when we took to tossing out birdseed under the living room window to avoid trudging in the snow to fill the feeder. Daily a troop of birds ranging from sparrows to doves to juncos would pop by. The consistent crew was a group we referred to as the Jolly Juncos. They would merrily hop about foraging for food in their somber dark hoods and grey suits. They were determined and undeterred in their daily sweep for seed. They helped break the monotony of winter.

In spring we were delighted to find a junco had created a nest in one of my hanging flower baskets.

Leave for a long weekend and surprise!
Quite an artful rendering
Yes, the eggs are tiny
Four eggs!
Mama bird settling in for sitting
Hatchling!
Feed me!
Feed me two!
Dad bird shows up with groceries
Mama bird takes a nest stretch

Unfortunately the birds flew the coop early, no doubt due to the fact that they nested in our patio area and we go through there multiple times a day. I felt terrible until I read about a ornithologist who runs into the same problem when studying juncos. The extra attention needed to band them for tracking can force fledglings to leave the nest early, but the good news is that the survival rate is high. This (I told myself) is what probably happened with our four little nestlings. Mama did return once or twice to the empty nest then disappeared.

I miss having our little junco family as neighbors and wonder if they will return next year.

Posted in Animals, birds, Nature, reflections, summer and tagged ,
01 Apr 2023
1 Comment

No Fooling: Flying Penguins


Because we know how trustworthy BBC documentaries are…

Happy April First!
Posted in birds, Films, humor, Nature, reflections and tagged , ,
18 Dec 2022
7 Comments

Winter Wonderland Once Again


As stated earlier, the travel bug has not bit us. We hunker down in winter and practice wishful thinking for warmer climates.

All in all, winter is for the birds. Really. That’s what we are doing for entertainment. We have enticed juncos, nuthatches, chickadees, sparrows, finches, a part time dove, and an infrequent flicker to our front yard with seed and such and sit back and enjoy the show.

Took Rocket J. Squirrel a few attempts to reach the feeder

We have a very basic feeder and try to keep it filled; however when it’s 19 degrees, with a brisky wind, finding alternative methods of feeding our feathered friends, like tossing food out the window for them onto the snow is the solution.

The seed buffet has garnered the attention of other critters: squirrels and deer. The squirrels are comical in how they try to avoid going through the snow to get to the food. They traverse on the branches above and tail twitch in frustration that they can’t quite reach the feeder. We spent a good hour observing how one squirrel finally took the plunge and dove into the snow, tunneling a track to feeder’s base to glean dropped seeds.

All you can eat seed buffet

The deer easily amble over to the feeder and lick seeds off the tray. They are not perturbed by our presence at the window.

We think this little guy looks like a burro so we have dubbed it Burrito

The most entertaining morning session was when the squirrel and deer arrived at the same time. The deer held their ground and would not acknowledge the squirrel’s attempts to mosey up to the seed feed. Old Rocket would inch up, tail twitching in anxiety and then Burrito would level a look that translated as “Excuse me?” and Rocket would hightail up the tree and pace the limb waiting, waiting, waiting for his turn.

Showdown at OK Feed and Seed

As for the birds—their territorial flutterings are reminiscent of playground squabbling. There is one white-crowned sparrow who is pro at fluffing up his feathers and chasing off the smaller birds from the seed buffet.

Like little kids playground squabbling

For most, the chosen winter sport is skiing, for us staying warm, while we watch from our chair side seats the front yard antics, suffices. Although, truthfully, after the third snow dump (and it’s still early December) I might just look into those Costco travel brochures that we pass by when we load up on birdseed. I imagine there are birds I can watch from a beachside balcony.

Posted in Animals, birds, humor, reflections, winter and tagged , , ,
19 Mar 2021
1 Comment

Friday Film Finds:


At the end of the week I’m ready to kick back with a bowl of popcorn with a remote in hand.

As much as I need to read, there are times when settling back to watch a movie is the ticket to totally unwinding from the week’s stress.

I have discovered I have lost my interest in films that are steeped in human dramas—maybe it’s because I’m living my own. Big, raucous CGI flicks, like the Marvel world offers, are okay for mindless escapism. What I discovered that engages my interest most are nature documentaries. I subscribe to PBS mainly for their Nature program.

Our library carries an impressive array of DVD and Blu-Ray offerings, especially in nature shows. Browsing the stacks one day I discovered an amazing series:

A definite WOW!

From the library catalog description:

Narrated by David Tennant, this exhilarating adventure was filmed over four years and forty countries with help from camera-carrying birds, drones, paragliders and remote-countrol microflight planes. This wondrous aerial spectacle will make your spirits soar!

It is indeed exhilarating to be so up close to birds in flight and to witness behaviors not easily accessible by humans. The dedication and ingenuity of the film crew is certainly impressive.

As a Whovian, it was an added bonus listening to David Tennant’s Scottish-infused narration. I half expected the Tardis to be spied among the migrating flocks of geese.

Film Faves:

  • Extras: the behind the scenes of how the series was filmed
  • the gathering of the flamingos, acres and acres of the delicate pink birds was visually stunning
  • murmurations—how starlings swarm and cavort in the sky
  • penguins-it’s hard to go wrong with penguins

I suppose there is some therapeutic aspect to watching the life and times of animals, especially birds. There is wonder and appreciation for the natural world. The joy and satisfaction of knowing there is so much beauty and marvel in the world that is available with a click of the remote is indeed a welcome balm after a long, long week.

What is your animal of choice to watch?

Posted in Animals, birds, Films, Nature, reflections, Television series and tagged , , ,
15 Dec 2020
4 Comments

A Dearth of Birds


Our once busy front yard bird feeder has grown silent. Usually there is a mix of winter residents such as nuthatches, chickadees, and other feathered friends who visit. Not this year.

Starting late summer we noticed decreased bird activity. Daily sightings dwindled until only ground feeders like the doves would appear. There was a flurry of pine siskins at one point but they are long gone.

We have missed our birds and are perplexed by their disappearance. Research shows bird traffic in some areas has diminished. Are birds deciding to isolate as well?

My solution? A faux bird. It permanently perches at the feeder and almost fools me that our birdie friends are somewhere out there.

Happy is the bird the bird that perches in wait of friends and feed

Anyone else missing their usual mix of backyard birds?

Posted in birds, Nature, reflections, winter and tagged ,

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